Pakistan to bat first in first ODI against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first one-day international (ODI) of the three-match series against Pakistan being played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Currently, the Sri Lankan cricket team is touring Pakistan for the three-match ODI series, as the remaining two matches will be played at the same venue on November 13 and 15.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have come face-to-face 157 times in ODIs, with the former dominating the head-to-head record with 93 victories, compared to the 1996 champions' 59. One match ended in a tie, while four ended in a no result.

The ODI series will be followed by a tri-nation series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe starting from November.

The two teams last faced each other in an ODI bilateral series in 2019, which Pakistan won 2-0.

Playing XIs:

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (w), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.

Reporter: Rozeena Ali